HEMEL HEMPSTEAD 0

GREAT WAKERING 1

Village side Wakering made critics who suggested that their fabulous start to the season might be a flash in the pan eat their words with the performance of the day in the FA Carlsberg Vase.

Rovers, who rocketed to the top of the Ryman League Third Division in their first season as members but had slumped with three straight defeats, went to Second Division high-fliers Hemel Hempstead and pulled off a fabulous 1-0 win.

Hemel had already disposed of Ford United, expected to be among their main rivals for promotion, in the Vase and had confidently been expected by many to march into the last 32.

However, chairman Fred Smith and secretary Roger Sampson went off as guests for today's fourth round draw at Northampton Town confident in the knowledge that few sides left will relish the thought of taking on Eddie Nash's men.

Wakering suffered a pre-match blow when skipper John Heffer was forced out with a groin injury, but they produced a tremendous hard-working display on a very difficult playing surface to pull off a fully-deserved success.

Much of their win owed a tremendous amount to the skill of their rearguard of Micky Munro and Tommy Dalgarno.

Gary Ewers, who must have covered every inch of the playing surface in a rare first team start, was another big plus factor while up front Paul Flack never stopped being a constant danger to the home defence despite often operating as a lone attacking weapon.

Behind them all Dave Hudson was the epitomy of reliability and in this form Wakering can not only go on to great things in the Vase, but will surely relaunch their Ryman honours bid with confidence next week when they visit Corinthian Casuals.

Despite playing up the slope and with the low sun in their faces, Wakering showed tremendous spirit in an even opening half against a very experienced Hemel outfit which included ex Watford FA Cup final defender Steve Terry, recently signed from Billericay.

Another former New Lodge man, Tony Kelly, was also in the home line-up along with experienced names such as Marc Liburd and Vinny Somers. They forced Hudson into some outstanding goalkeeping at times, but Ewers and Scopes both tested home keeper Tamer Fernandes before Wakering won the game in the 73rd minute.

A break down the left saw Paul Wheeler cross and, after the ball had caught a couple of ricochets, top scorer Mark Hampshire crashed home a screaming shot from the edge of the box.

Talking of the Vase, spare a thought for ex Bowers United boss Tony Cross, now in charge at Tilbury. Following a 2-2 draw at St Chad's on Saturday, he takes his troops on the long haul to Falmouth Town to try and earn a fourth round spot next Saturday.

Hullbridge buzz sees battling Bees get stung

Hullbridge Sports are out to prove that they are not just an outstanding youth team.

The whole area is buzzing about last Thursday's fabulous Lower Road night when Sports youngsters hosted Blackburn Rovers in front of a full house in the FA Youth Cup.

Now their senior side, from the Schweppes Essex Senior League, are determined to give themselves a push up the table.

On Saturday they went to Gardiners Close to take on Basildon United and triumphed 2-1 thanks to two goals from Warren Root (two and 71 minutes).

Bees replied through Morrell on the hour.

Southend Manor seem to have hit a temporary blip. In midweek they suffered a 4-1 Ancient Order of Foresters League Cup Group C defeat at Concord Rangers and followed this up with a 3-0 League defeat at Ilford on Saturday.

Now Manor need a win at Bowers United on Wednesday night if they are to stand a chance of winning through to the knockout stages of the League Cup.

All the Ilford goals came in the second-half with CJ Emmanuel, Connelly and Wiggs being the men on target.

Concord became the latest side to find just how difficult opponents runaway leaders Saffron Walden are this term.

Rangers lost 4-1 away despite Danny Heale giving them a fourth minute advantage.

Martin King put Saffron Walden on the victory trail with goals after 14 and 42 minutes.

Then Damon Miles (50) and Carlo Silenti (65 minutes) made sure of success.

On the ball - Basildon juggle the ball during Saturday's defeat against Hullbridge

(Left) Stripe me - Basildon United and Hullbridge go into battle at Gardiners Close

Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL

Curson collects for Hall

Earls Hall United went one over the eight in Saturday's Southend Borough Combination programme to leave hosts Aviation Traders crash-landing.

For Earls Hall won 9-0 with Curson leading the way on four and Smith grabbing a hat-trick.

Another goal trio star was Scaife, who managed his feat for Brit Athletic as they romped home 6-1 against Borough Rovers.

Regular scorer Wilkins was at the double for White Ensign, who got home 3-0 at Old Southendian.

Ensign were also among the goals in the Reserve Division where hat-tricks from Benson and Gibson helped them to a 7-5 win in a high-scoring affair at Shoebury Town.

There's just no stopping Godfrey in Division One. This week he helped himself to five goals as Old Rochfordians beat Cupids Country Club 9-0.

No less than 35 goals were scored in the four Division Two games played. Johnson got four and Winslow was a hat-trick boy as World Aviation grounded Cupids 2nd 11-0.

Customs and Excise saw Spear on target with three as Customs and Excise saw off Southend Rangers 11-1, while Trenkel's trio helped Heath Sports overcome Monarchs Sports 5-2.

Jeeves served Kings Field Casuals well in Division Three, scoring two in a 3-0 win at Catholic 3rd.

Melchester Rovers completed a miserable afternoon for Southend Rangers when they beat their second team 7-0 in Division Four with Tagg and Stringer both netting doubles.

Ellis grabbed a hat-trick for Southend Collegians 2nd, 6-1 winners at their Little Theatre Club counterparts, while Cohen's double took Shoebury Old Boys 2nd home 4-2 at Scott Park.

Lawrence's nap hand, aided by a hat-trick from Fossitt, gave Parsons Barn plenty to cheer with a 9-5 win at Catholic 4th in the Fifth Division. Perry scored a trio for the losers.

Goddard and S Byford both got two as Zebra Sports overcame Cupids 3rd 7-0.

International PMS 2nd had two-goal hauls from Williams and S Blake to thank for a 7-1 Division Six victory at Flightspares 2nd. Miller and Dunne were the brace heroes as Landwick 2nd won 5-3 at Battlesbridge 3rd.

It was a case of cheers for Ridley as he got two goals for Brook Sports, 3-1 winners over their Wakering counterparts.

Cup over for Shoebury

Southend Borough Combination Shoebury Town saw their interest in the Essex Intermediate Cup come to an end when they lost 2-0 at Hale End in the third round on Saturday.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.